Spondylolisthesis: Check out Chiropractic Care

Spondylolisthesis. It’s one of those long spinal condition words that calls on some practice to pronounce, and one of those spinal conditions that chiropractic can skillfully help in diagnosing, managing, treating, and referring if necessary for other care. Moriarty Chiropractic recognizes that the gentler the treatment, the better the outcome; the more stable the spondylolisthesis, the more responsive to conservative care. Some of the latest studies on this spinal condition offer hope for pain relief to those in Nashua with spondylolisthesis.

WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS

A spinal condition that happens when one vertebral body (one of the spine’s bones) slips forward or backward on the vertebral body next to it resulting in back and/or leg pain, spondylolisthesis is not too unusual a condition. About 20% of the adult population deals with it. Low back pain is its companion. Degenerative spondylolisthesis is most often seen at the L4/5 lumbar spine level in adulthood. Non-degenerative spondylolisthesis typically is found at the L5/S1 level. (1) Researchers evaluated the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its associated slippage by reviewing published studies. They found that over a 4 to 25 year timespan, 12% to 20% acquired degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis progressed. It is valuable to note that 2/3 of spondylolisthesis patients’ slips did not progress. (2) Non-progressing is good! Even degenerative is good as it often responds to care. Your Nashua chiropractor is ready to help with Nashua spondylolisthesis!

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS

In our Nashua chiropractic clinic, spondylolisthesis is treated with the conservative, non-surgical Cox® Technic System. Published studies, case reports, and clinical data have shown treatment outcomes. In a case study of a patient experiencing both an extruded L4/5 disc herniation and a spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at L5/S1, pain was reported to decrease from a 9 to 1 on a 10 point scale in only 9 visits over 4 weeks of care. At 10 years follow up, the patient remained stable. (3) In another case report of a US Marine Veteran, the patient noted a 25% decrease in pain and 22% reduction in disability in 10 treatments over 2 months leading the researchers to close the report with the conclusion that this care may well be a safe and effective approach. (4) Then, in the 1000 cases study with data from 31 different chiropractic clinics, L4/5 spondylolisthesis seemed to take more visits and time than L5/S1 spondylolisthesis to experience maximal clinical improvement. The mean number of days to maximal improvement was 29 days and 12 visits regardless of the condition. In general, 95% of spondylolisthesis patients had maximal clinical improvement in fewer than 90 days. The gentler the treatment the better with spondylolisthesis. (5) Bracing spondylolisthesis (and other chronic spinal conditions like spondylosis and degenerated disc) is a typical component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment plan to enhance function and reduce pain. (6) Moriarty Chiropractic will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise, bracing, treatment - with you.

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes  treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Whether you can pronounce spondylolisthesis or not, be sure to schedule your Nashua chiropractic appointment today get relief!